Your Body Keeps Score, Too—Listen to It

Your back hurts. Your chest feels tight. You wake up at 3 a.m. wired and restless.

That’s not just stress. That’s your body calling BS on the life you’re pretending is working.

Stop ignoring the physical alarms

You say you’re just tired. Just stiff. Just tense.

No. You’re emotionally out of alignment and your body is the only part of you honest enough to say it out loud.

Chronic tension in your neck? You’re probably carrying responsibility that doesn’t belong to you.

Gut issues? Maybe it’s not the food. Maybe it’s what you’re refusing to digest emotionally.

That ache in your chest? Could be a health issue—or it could be sadness you’ve buried under productivity.

You don’t need to panic. You need to pay attention.

Try This: Take inventory right now. Where in your body feels tight, heavy, or dull? Don’t explain it away. Just notice.

Notice what gets triggered and when

You’re calm all day—until your boss questions your work. Suddenly your jaw locks and your pulse spikes.

You’re fine at dinner—until your wife brings up something you forgot. Now your stomach flips and you can’t swallow.

That’s not just annoyance. That’s stored emotion. Years of not being seen, not feeling enough, not having words for what’s underneath.

Your body holds the emotional stories you never spoke. And when something touches that nerve, it flares up—fast.

Think about Jason Bourne. He couldn’t remember his past, but his body never forgot. Muscle memory, hypervigilance, instinct. You’re the same. Just quieter.

Action Step: For the next week, jot down what your body feels during moments of tension. Look for patterns. They’ll tell you what your mind tries to hide.

Stop numbing the signal

You reach for Advil before you ask what your pain is trying to tell you.

You hit the gym harder instead of asking what you’re running from.

You down a drink or scroll until midnight to “relax,” when what you really need is stillness.

Discomfort in your body is not the enemy. It’s the messenger.

And every time you numb it, you miss a chance to get real with yourself.

You don’t need to fix the feeling. You need to face it.

Experiment: Next time you feel the urge to numb—pause. Sit for 60 seconds and ask, “What’s really going on underneath this feeling?” Wait for the answer.

Align your life with what your body knows

Your body knows when something’s off—even when your mind is still bargaining.

It knows when the marriage is distant, when the job is wrong, when the pace is unsustainable.

You want to feel better? Start living in a way that doesn’t require your body to scream for attention.

Alignment isn’t a vibe. It’s a lived commitment. Your calendar, your habits, your relationships—all in line with your values.

Action Item: Identify one thing in your life that your body tightens up around. Make a plan to address it this week. Not someday. This week.